Chapter 16

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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
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Ma Sujeong was a famous actress, and the paparazzi were always on her tail.

*‘Our Sujeong certainly is sensational.’*

The third daughter of the Seongjin Group’s owner family, blessed with striking good looks. An actress who had drawn ten million moviegoers twice this year alone. That was Ma Sujeong.

*‘Still...’*

President Seo muttered as he scrolled down.

“This is insane.”

The paparazzi would post photos without permission, always using the excuse of the ‘public’s right to know.’ The president rested his chin on his hand and stared at the monitor.

“Truly beautiful! Our actress Ma.”

Ma Sujeong on the screen was especially beautiful that day. Judging by her styling, she had clearly been to the salon, but it was her natural aura that made her stand out even in low heels and jeans.

In the photos taken at the supermarket, actress Ma was dressed in an outfit that looked comfortable yet chic.

That alone was enough to make the paparazzi drool, but that wasn't the main point.

*‘This baby… is this the adopted son?’*

The president blinked. To be honest, he had seen the press release too.

*‘I thought it must have been photoshopped a bit…’*

The paparazzi were cruel; they didn't photoshop. How many stars had suffered because their true proportions were mercilessly revealed?

*‘No, what on earth is this kid?’*

The moment he saw it, the president exclaimed.

“A doll?”

A baby with light-colored hair and dark eyes.

*‘…Is it possible to be this cute?’*

His nose was perfectly sculpted, and his red lips brought to mind fresh fruits like cherries.

“How can anyone look like this?”

He was cute enough just as he was, but in the photo, he was smiling brightly.

Honestly, all he could do was marvel.

“Wow.”

If there was ever a face genius, it would be that baby.

“No. I should say, actress Ma’s son.”

Was that why? Right now, this photo was everywhere on every online community in South Korea.

*‘Actress Ma’s expression, too… this is completely different.’*

He knew, having watched Ma Sujeong for a long time. She was an actress who smiled often, but he had rarely seen a face this bright.

*‘Well, she may look strong on the outside… but who in this world doesn’t have their own struggles?’*

Ma Sujeong was strong, but she was an actress who, for one reason or another, was disliked by the public. She had many festering wounds. And yet, there she was, smiling like that.

*‘That’s the smile of someone who has the whole world.’*

The baby and Ma Sujeong were smiling at each other, and frankly, it looked like a scene from a movie.

*‘But the location is just an ordinary supermarket?’*

What in the world was this atmosphere?

That wasn't all. President Seo kept scrolling. Photos had been taken almost every minute.

“No way, how is every single one so good? Are these really paparazzi shots?”

Ma Sujeong and the child seemed to be wandering through the supermarket. But the most beautiful scene was this one.

“This is it. The scene where the baby is feeding her a puffed rice snack.”

A small, cute finger was holding the puffed rice snack, placing it in Ma Sujeong’s mouth.

He felt it the moment he saw it.

“Oh my, how cute.”

I mean, this baby’s face was already ridiculously cute, but it seemed he had a sweet personality too.

*‘A baby that age shouldn’t be able to do that…’*

The president thought of his own rabbit-like daughters at home. He would do anything for his little princesses, who were the apple of his eye, but behind that was the unseen torment of real-life parenting. A few words could never be enough to describe it.

The president scrolled down. The comments below the photo echoed his own feelings.

└ Insane

└ +1

└ +1111

└ What did I just see? What is that?

└ An angel is sharing its food.

└ Isn't it instinct for kids to put food in their own mouths?

└ They share sometimes. If it's something they don't like. But this is just holy.

└ +11

└ +111

└ Ah, crazy. Ma Sujeong is gorgeous, but with a baby that angelic, the atmosphere is unreal.

└ She said she adopted him because he was cute, right?

└ And that cute kid is nice enough to share his food.

└ Did you see them looking at each other? It's incredible.

The president let out a long breath. In the middle of the comments, he found the reaction he had been hoping for.

└ They say he’s adopted, but looking at this, it seems like it was done out of love.

└ +11

└ +1111

└ Honestly, it’s her personal business. The people who criticized her were the weird ones.

└ The malicious comments were no joke.

└ Everywhere you looked, people were saying she went crazy with grief after losing her son. Let’s be nicer with our words.

└ I also heard people say it was out of grief from having her daughter taken away.

└ Honey is dripping from her eyes.

└ That’s love.

└ +1 Even a stranger can see it's love.

└ +11 It’s love no matter how you look at it.

The president tapped his mouse.

*‘…Her image improved in an instant.’*

The critical public opinion had turned around in a moment. Malicious comments still appeared occasionally, but they were immediately met with counterarguments.

“Actress Ma.”

The president muttered, looking at the monitor.

“Oh, Actress Ma.”

She had reversed the atmosphere in one fell swoop. This was a highly unusual event in Ma Sujeong’s career.

“Still, though…”

The president kept looking at the child’s photo. The more he looked, the more amazed he was.

└ How can a kid look like that?

└ How can he be so cute?

└ And why does he smile so much?

President Seo, known as one of the ‘top line’ figures in the entertainment industry, agreed with most of the comments. But as someone involved, there was one thing he found deeply regrettable.

“Please, just consult with me!”

Ma Sujeong. Ms. Ma Sujeong. Please just say something before you cause a scene.

*‘Well, it’s not like she’d listen even if I tried to stop her.’*

President Seo hung his head low. No one would ever know.

“That I’m just a figurehead president!”

Well, for a figurehead, he was still somewhat involved. His dear Actress Ma, who had put him in this position, didn't meddle in the operations, at least.

Still.

“Ma Sujeong. If you’re acting so recklessly because you have the biggest stake… I’m a little hurt, you know?”

We can at least talk things over. Hey. Have you forgotten the bond we’ve had since you were a rookie?

“Please, just give me a heads-up.”

How could you go out so carelessly!

How can I be finding out about this later than the netizens!

He lamented, but there was no one to hear him. President Seo shook his head.

*‘It would be useless to say this in front of Actress Ma anyway.’*

She would most likely just chuckle and brush it off. Then she’d probably tell him to get back to work.

“Please, just tell me first!”

President Seo muttered, rubbing his face with both hands.

* * *

The captions scrolled up spectacularly.

*‘This feels like I’m harvesting a crop.’*

I watched with satisfaction and muttered.

“Bwa, bboo bboo, bboobboo!”

Hide captions for a moment!

The captions vanished instantly.

*‘Good, very good.’*

The paparazzi must have released the photos, because captions suddenly started popping up.

*‘It’s rising smoothly.’*

It feels like reaping what I’ve sown.

I smiled and hugged the mirror tightly. The feel of the plastic almost brought tears to my eyes.

*‘I never knew it would be this hard just to look in a mirror.’*

Mom bought a mirror without even looking at the price tag, but she wouldn’t let me keep it near me.

*‘Well, it’s dangerous if it breaks.’*

Still, I had no idea it would be so difficult to get her to place the mirror in my cradle.

*‘To think it would require blood, sweat, and tears!’*

I hugged the hard-won mirror tightly. In this moment, it was incredibly precious to me.

*‘Every time they tried to take it away, saying it was dangerous…’*

I quietly stared at the ceiling. A breeze must have come from somewhere, as the mobile swayed. And my heart swayed along with it.

*‘…I cried.’*

It was a strange feeling. I may have performed countless emotional scenes as a supporting actor, but I’d never acted out a baby’s cry.

Something hot surged in my chest, but it couldn't be helped. It was really the only way.

*‘Crying at my age! I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve wailed like this in my entire life!’*

Since I flailed and cried every time they tried to take the mirror, Mom and Ansan-daek must have been flustered, because they went and found a safe, acrylic one.

I looked at the mobile and closed my eyes.

*‘It’s not quite humiliation… but it feels pretty close. How should I put it… haaah.’*

*Sigh.* This is all because I can’t talk. When will I be able to speak fluently?

*‘I managed to say ‘Mama’ without too much trouble.’*

I tried saying the words I could manage.

“Mama! Mamma! No-no!”

That was it.

*‘Damn it!’*

I covered my face again. Of course, my hands were too small to actually cover it.

*‘Other than those, everything still comes out as ‘bbyu-bbyu’.’*

S-so embarrassing…

I felt like I was about to cry. I took a deep breath.

*‘I don’t know my exact age, but for a baby this small, aren’t I a pretty good talker?’*

Will the number of words I can use naturally increase over time?

Is my development following that of a typical baby?

But how would I know what a normal baby’s growth is like! It’s not like I’ve ever raised a child!

*‘Wait, how old am I anyway?’*

I looked down at my hand. A baby’s hand was fair and chubby. But I couldn’t tell my exact age in months just by looking at it.

*‘Come to think of it, they said they don’t know my birthday.’*

I guess I can just go with the day Mom picks for me.

Just as I was lost in thought, I heard the sound of a door opening.

*‘Is that Ansan-daek?’*

But the person who entered was rather unexpected.

*‘Huh?’*

I cried out without thinking.

“Hit-luh gwanma!”

Grandma Hitler!

The grandmother, leaning on her cane, furrowed her brow. Then she muttered quietly.

“Hitler?”

Huh. How did she understand that?

The grandmother approached with a grim look on her face.